Kerala: Journo faces threats for FB post on sexual abuse in madrassa

A journalist working with a Malayalam newspaper in Kozhikode has come under online attack following her disclosure about alleged sexual exploitation of children in madrassas.

The journalist, VP Rajeena, incurred wrath of the members of her community after she went public on Facebook on Sunday about the happenings in madrassas which she claims to have witnessed during her childhood.

Rajeena, in her post, narrated how madrassa teachers allegedly used to “inappropriately grope” both boys and girls who came for religious studies.

(Cries for death, spitting venom, curses – let them all go on. I’m not the least afraid. Because with me is Allah. Which is why I am not scared even if the whole world turns against me. What I did is turning out to be more and more right. My life could be in grave danger. There are several instances in history when we have seen uprisings against the established order being quelled. I am getting prepared to confront that, if that’s the way it is. That will be the fuel that will set ablaze your closed hearts.)

This led to a furore and she was flooded with obscene messages and open threats on her profile. Facebook closed down her account following mass reporting by her critics.

When contacted, Rajeena said “My Facebook account was blocked following mass reporting. What I had said was no exaggeration but the truth and only the truth,” she told PTI.

She also said if the threats continue, she would be forced to approach the police.

Rajeena said her motives were questioned and efforts were made to present it as an attack on the religion.